Adjustable tiebar for switches



W. L. WALKER ADJUSTABLE TIEBAR FOR SWITCHES v A g. 7, 1923. 1,463.984

Filed Dec. 13, 1922 Patented Aug. 7, i923.

sraras l,4h3,98e PATENT OFFIE.

WILBUR L. WALKER, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS.

ADJUSTABLE TIEBAR FOR SWITCHES.

Application filed. December 13, 1922. Serial No. 606,689.

' justable tie bar for railway switches. It is quite desirable thatrailway switch connections. tie bars and the like be provided with meansfor adjustment to facilitate their installation and also to compensatefor wear of the switch parts. it is essential, however. that suchadjustment features or take up devices be of positive character,incapable of accidentally changing adjustment, yet easily and readilyaccessible and convenient for adjustment when a change is to be made.

The present form of tie bar adjustment contemplates two relativelyadjustable members having interposed therebetween a number ofinterchangeable shims of various thickness the shims being enclosedorhoused in such manner that they may not be accidentally disengaged orremoved, thus insuring the safety of these connections.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as themeans and mode of operation of adjustable connections applicable torailway switch connections and the like, which will not only be cheap inconstruction, but will be more eflicient in use, positive in operation,capable of being easily and quickly adjusted, of increased durabilityand unlikely to get out of repair.

l further object of the invention is to provide such adjusting device,which while being easily accessible will be fully safeguarded againstaccidental disengagement and against any accidental change ofadjustment.

A further object of the invention is to providesuch adjustableconnection having a comparatively wide range of adjustment, through asuccession of small units of variation.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will morefully appear in the specification, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, the parts and combinations thereof and themode of operation. or their equivalents as hereinafter described. andset forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred, butobviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a railway rail andadjustable switch point, to which the adjustable tie bar connectionforming the subject matter hereof has been applied. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation partly in section, of the adjustable connection. Fig. 3 is anend elevation likewise partly in section of the tie bar and itsconnection. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the engaging end ofthetie bar and the adjusting shims and space block disconnected fromeach other. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail plan views showing differentrelative adjustments of the interconnected parts by transposition of theadjusting stem. Fig. 7 is a detail end elevation illustrating amodification of the construction previously described.

Like parts areindicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

In the drawing 1 is the track rail and 2 the adjustable switch membermovable in relation with the rail. Connected to the switch member 2 bythe adjustable connection forming the subject matter hereof, is atransversely arranged tie bar 3. For the purpose of connecting this tiebar 3 with the switch member 2. there is provided a bracket bolted orotherwise secured to the switch member 2, comprising a T shaped headportion 4. from which projects he arm 5, formed integral with the head 4and supporting a housing or keeper 6. within which the tie bar 3extends. The head 4 of the bracket may be attached by suitable bolts 7,to the switch member 2. In the particular design illustrated thesupporting arm 5 is provided with a strengthening rib by which thebracket is enabled to withstand severe strains and hard usage. Thehousing or keeper 6 is of recumbent Ushaped form, comprising top andbottom walls 6 and 6". extending in substantially parallel spacedrelation and interconnected at one edge as at 6, leaving the oppositelateral edge and the ends of the keeper or housing open. The interveningspace within the housing or keeper 6 is such as to permit the free andeasy adjustment of the bar 3 therewithin. That portion of the tie bar 3within the housing or keeper is provided with an elongated rectangularopening 9, to receive a space block 10, and a plurality ofinterchangeable shims 11, which. together completely fill the opening 9.For convenience of assembly outside the housing or keeper 6, the spaceblock 10 and shims 11 are preferably provided with laterally projectingledges or extensions 12, whereby the shims are of substantially T-shape. These ledges or extensions l2 will rest upon the tie bar 3 aboutthe margins of the opening 9, thereby temporarily supporting the blockand shims in adjusted relation until the bar with its collection ofshims is insertedwithin the keeper or housing. The housing is ofsufiicient depth to accommodate the extension of the shims and block 10above the top surface of the bar 3. The block 10 and the housing orkeeper 6 are provided with holes 13 and 14 respectively, which registerwith each other whatever the relative adjustment may be. Theseregisteringholes 13 and 14 receive a coupling pin or bolt 15, whichextends transversely through the housing or keeper 6, and through theinterposed block 10 upon each side of which the interchangeable shims 11are arranged 'to afford the desired degree of adjustment. It is quiteobvious that so long as the shims and space block are enclosed withinthe housing or keeper the shims cannot be displaced either accidentallyor otherwise. The shims 11 being of such thickness and number as tocompletely fill the space 9 on opposite sides of the block 10 aiiord apositive connection between the block and the bar 3 in eitherdirection.By removing the coupling pin or bolt 15, the bar with its collection ofshims and the block 10 may be withdrawn from the keeper r housing 9, andthe shims rearranged by transposing one or more shims from one side ofthe space block to the other. to afford different degrees of adjustment.While these shims maybe provided in any number and any combination. forillustrative purposes only, a combination of five shims is suggested.having thickness var by one sixteenth of an inch from a quarter inch toa half inch inclusive. Thusthe live shims would be one quarter inch,five sixteenths. three eighths of an inch, seven sixteenths of an inchand one half inch respectively. By variously arranging such combinationof shims on oppo site sides of the space blocls; 10 a range. ofadjustment at each end of the tie bar may be effected by sixteenths ofan inch. from ones xteenthto one and three eighths inches. and by quaizter inches from one and three eighths to; one and seven eighthsinches, while the throw of the switch may be varied from three inches tofive and: three quarter inches by variationsof one sixteenth inch andfrom two and one half inches to six and a quarterinches by fourths of aninch. 1 The. e dimensions are mentioned. not with any intent oflimitingthe invention. to specific sizes or dimensions, but forillustrative purposes only, it being understood that the size and numberof shims may be increased or diminished in accordance with varyingconditions of use.

In lieu of the self supporting shims eng raging the tie bar 3 by meansof the extensions 12. such extensions or supporting ledges may beentirely omitted. In such change the lower side or bottom 6 of thehousing or keeper 6 may be extended laterally as at 16. Fig. 7. to forma temporary support for the bar 3 and shimsyduring the assembly of theparts in their relatively adjusted position after which the bar and asembled keeper may be shifted laterally upon such projecting lip orledge 16 within the keeper or housing 6.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there are shown two different adjustments effected bytransposition or the adjusting shims from one side to the othen of theintermediate space block.

It will be obvious that by the construction described, the bar 3 will bepositively connected with the switch member for movemcnt'in eitherdirection at all times yet the connection cannot become loosened byvibration and will not wedge n. 1 stick to prevent adjustment whenchange becomes necessary. The adjustable parts are protected to someextent from weather and from tampering.

It will be understood that in the usual and ordinary application of theinvention, an ad justable connection as here described will be providedat each end of. the tie bars 3. This will enable either switch point tobe adjusted in relation with the rail, independent of the other point.in order that the switch members may en uniformly. It also en'- ablesthe switch points to berelatively adjusted to bring them to propergauge.

The supporting bracket comprising the head 4, arm. 5, and housing 6 is astandard design of track member. This form of bracket is very generallyused at the present time. The present invention is thus appli cable toexisting railway track work. without disarrangement of track byemploying the existing brackets and substituting for the present tie barconnection. the interchangeable shim and: adjustable block connection ofthe present construction.

From the above description it will be apparent th at there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions.detail construction and" arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

lVhilc in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,

ing in the portion of the bar contained within the recess of thebracket, a member operatively engaged with the bracket extending withinthe opening in the bar, and a plurality of interchangeable shims ofdiilerent thickness inserted within the opening in the bar beside saidbracket engaging portion,

and within the recess of the bracket whereby the bracket overhangs theshims to prevent their displacement from the opening in the bar.

2. In a construction of the character described, a switch member, a tiebar adjustably connected thereto, a recessed bracket carried by theswitch member within the recess of which the tie bar extends, and aseries of interchangeable shims having ongagement with the tie barwithin the recess of the bracket for maintaining the bar in different.positions of adjustment in relation with the bracket, said shims beingheld against displacement by said bracket.

3. In a construction of the character described, a tie bar having anopening therein,

a. connection for said tie bar extending through said opening, a.plurality of interchangeable shims also located within said opening, anda housing enclosing the shims to prevent displacement of the shims fromthe opening in the tie bar.

4. In a construction of the character described, two relativelyadjustable members one of which is provided with a recess within which.the other members extends, a plurality of interchangeable shims alsolocated within said recess to complete the filling of the same, and ahousing enclosing the shims to prevent their displacement from saidrecess.

5. In a construction of the character described, a recessed bar, athrust member ex tending within the recess of the bar, a plurality ofinterchangeable shims arranged beside said thrust member within saidrecess, and an enclosure for the recessed portion of the bar and theshims preventing the displacement of the'shimsl from said recess.

6. In a construction of the character described, an adjustable barhaving an elongated opening therein, a second member overlapping theelongated opening in the bar,a coupling member carried by theoverlapping member, and extending within the said opening in said barand a series of removable shims engaged. in said opening beneath theoverhanging member to differentially position the coupling member withinthe elongated opening.

7. In a construction of the character described, a bifurcated member, asecond member extending between the furcations of the first member, acoupling member extending thru the furcations of the first member andthrough the interposed second member, and a plurality of interchangeableshimslocated in said second member beside the coupling member andoverhung by the furcations of the first member to prevent theirdisplacement.

able shims which by their. transposition vary the relation of thecoupled members, said shims being held against displacement by theoverlapping relation of the members.

10. In a construction of the character described, a bar having anelongated opening, a thrust member engageable within said opening, apluralitv of shims insertable within the opening beside the thrustmember to afl'ord variable abutment for the thrust member in eitherdirection, means .Tshaped shims insertable within the open ing, besidethe thrust member, to ailord variable abutment for the thrust member,said shims being supported in assembled relation by the engagement ofthe lateral projections of said T-shaped shims with the bar,

and means for preventing the displacement of the shims from saidopening.

12. In a construction of the character described, a bar having thereinan elongated opening, thrust member engageable with in the opening, anda. plurality of shims insertable Within said elongated opening bemy handthis 5 day of December, A. D. side the thrust member to afford avariable1922. v abutment for said thrust member, and means overhanging saidshims When in, operative WILBUR VVALKER' 5 position to prevent theirdisplacement from Witnesses:

the o peningin said bar. H. N. MOGG,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set BLANCHE A. FROOM.

